Method for Manufacturing a High Strength Steel Sheet and Sheet Obtained by the Method

ABSTRACT

A method for manufacturing a high-strength steel sheet having a tensile strength of more than 1100 MPa and a yield strength of more than 700 MPa, a uniform elongation UE of at least 8.0% and a total elongation of at least 10%, made of a steel containing in percent by weight: 0.1%≦C≦0.25%, 4.5%≦Mn≦10%, 1%≦Si≦3%, 0.03%≦Al≦2.5%, the remainder being Fe and impurities resulting from the smelting, the composition being such that CMn Index=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6, the method comprising the steps of annealing a rolled sheet made of said steel by soaking it at an annealing temperature TA higher than the Ac transformation point of the steel but less than 1000° C., cooling the annealed sheet to a quenching temperature QT between 190° C. and 80° C. at a cooling speed sufficient to obtain a structure just after cooling containing martensite and retained austenite, maintaining the steel sheet at an overaging temperature PT between 350° C. and 500° C. for an overaging time Pt of more than 5 s cooling the sheet down to the ambient temperature. Sheet obtained.

The present invention is related to a method for manufacturing ahigh-strength steel sheet using a continuous heat treatment line and tothe sheet obtained by this method.

To produce various equipments such as trailers, trucks, agriculturalmachines, automotive parts and so on, high strength steel sheets made ofDP (dual phase) or TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steels areused. Some of such steels which are produced on continuous annealinglines, containing for example about 0.2% C, about 2% Mn and about 1.7%Si, have a tensile strength of about 980 MPa.

In order to reduce the weight of the equipments made of these steels,which is very desirable to improve their energy efficiency, it wasproposed to use CMnSi steels containing 0.1% to 0.4% C, 2% to 4% Mn, upto 2% Si or Si+Al, such steels being heat treated in order to have amartensitic structure with a significant content of retained austeniteor a ferrito-martensitic structure. Such steels are used to producegrades having a tensile strength of more than 1000 MPa. These sheets areproduced on continuous annealing lines and are optionally hot dipcoated. The mechanical properties of the sheets depend on the amount ofresidual austenite which has to be sufficiently high. This requires thatthe austenite is sufficiently stable. Moreover, in order to perform thetreatment on existing lines with a good productivity, it is desirablethat the characteristic transformation points of the steel such as Ac₁,Ac₃, Ms and Mf are not too restrictive.

For these reasons, it remains the need to have a steel and a process tomanufacture easily high strength steel sheets on continuous heattreatment lines.

For this purpose the invention relates to a method for manufacturing ahigh-strength steel sheet having a tensile strength of more than 1100MPa and a yield strength of more than 700 MPa and a uniform elongationUE of at least 8.0% and a total elongation of at least 10%, made of asteel containing in percent by weight:

0.1%≦C≦0.25%

4.5%≦Mn≦10%

1%≦Si≦3%

0.03≦Al≦2.5%

the remainder being Fe and impurities resulting from the smelting, thecomposition being such that:

CMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6

the method comprising the steps of:

-   -   annealing a rolled sheet made of said steel by soaking it at an        annealing temperature AT higher than the Ac₁ transformation        point of the steel but less than 1000° C.,    -   cooling the annealed sheet to a quenching temperature QT between        190° and 80° C., at a cooling speed sufficient to obtain a        structure just after cooling containing martensite and retained        austenite,    -   maintaining the steel sheet at an overaging temperature PT        between 350° C. and 500° C. for an overaging time Pt of more        than 5 s and less than 600 s,    -   cooling the sheet down to the ambient temperature.

In a preferred embodiment, the annealing temperature AT is higher thanthe Ac₃ transformation point of the steel, and the quenching temperatureQT is such that the structure of the steel after the final heattreatment contains at least 20% of retained austenite and at least 65%of martensite and, preferably, the sum of the ferrite and bainitecontents is less than 10%.

Preferably, the chemical composition of the steel is such that:

0.15%≦C≦0.25%

4.5%≦Mn≦5.5%

1.4%≦Si≦1.8%

0.03≦Al≦2.5%

CMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6

the annealing temperature AT is higher than 760° C., the quenchingtemperature QT is less than 170° C. and the structure of the steelcontains between 20% and 30% of retained austenite.

In a particular embodiment, the quenching temperature can also be lessthan 150° C.

In one embodiment, the overaging temperature PT is between 380° C. and470° C. and the sheet is maintained at the overaging temperature for atime Pt between 90 s and 600 s.

In one embodiment, the chemical composition of the steel is such that:

0.15%≦C≦0.25%

6.5%≦Mn≦7.5%

1.4%≦Si≦1.8%

0.03≦Al≦2.5%

CMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6

the annealing temperature AT is higher than 710° C., the quenchingtemperature QT is between 120° C. and 180° C., the overaging temperaturePT is between 350° C. and 450° C. and the overaging time Pt is between50 s and 600 s.

In a particular embodiment, the chemical composition of the steel issuch that:

0.15%≦C≦0.25%

4.5%≦Mn≦5.5%

1.4%≦Si≦1.8%

0.03≦Al≦2.5%

CMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6

and the annealing temperature AT is less than the Ac₃ transformationpoint of the steel, the quenching temperature QT is between 110° C. and170° C., the overaging temperature PT is between 350° C. and 450° C.,the overaging time Pt is between 5 s and 600 s and preferably between 90s and 600 s, the structure of the steel containing at least 15% offerrite, at least 50% of martensite and at least 15% of retainedaustenite.

Preferably the chemical composition of the steel satisfies at least oneof the following conditions:

0.03%≦Al≦0.5%

Si+Al≧1.4%

1.4%≦Al≦2.5% In one embodiment, the overaging temperature PT is between440° C. and 470° C. and the sheet is maintained at the overagingtemperature for a time Pt between 5 s and 60 s. In this case, theholding at the overaging temperature can be made by passing the sheet ina hot dip coating bath. After passing in hot a dip coating bath, thesheet can be further maintained at a temperature between 480° C. and570° C. to be galvannealed before being cooled down to the ambienttemperature.

The annealing, the quenching and the overaging can be made on acontinuous heat treatment line such as a continuous annealing line whichoptionally comprises a hot dip coating section.

The preparation of the sheet by rolling can comprise hot rolling of aslab and optionally cold rolling.

The invention is also related to a high-strength steel sheet having atensile strength of more than 1100 MPa and a yield strength of more than700 MPa and a uniform elongation UE of at least 8.0% and a totalelongation TE of at least 10.0%, the chemical composition of the steelcontaining, in weight percent:

0.1%≦C≦0.35%

4.5%≦Mn≦10%

1%≦Si≦3%

0.03≦Al≦2.5%

CMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6

the remainder being Fe and impurities resulting from the smelting.

In a preferable embodiment, the structure of the steel contains at least20% of retained austenite, at least 65% of martensite and less than 10%of the sum of ferrite and bainite.

The chemical composition of the steel is preferably such that:

0.15%≦C≦0.25%

4.5%≦Mn≦5.5%

1.4%≦Si≦1.8%

0.03≦Al≦2.5%

CMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6

Then, the yield strength YS can be higher than 1100 MPa, the tensilestrength TS higher than 1350 MPa, the uniform elongation UE can be ofmore than 10.0% and the total elongation TE of more than 12.0%.

In one embodiment, the chemical composition of the steel is such that:

0.15%≦C≦0.25%

6.5%≦Mn≦7.5%

1.4%≦Si≦1.8%

0.03≦Al≦2.5%

CMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6

and the yield strength YS is higher than 1000 MPa and the tensilestrength TS is higher than 1100 MPa.

In a particular embodiment, the chemical composition of the steel issuch that:

0.15%≦C≦0.25%

4.5%≦Mn≦5.5%

1.4%≦Si≦1.8%

0.03≦Al≦2.5%

CMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6

and the structure of the steel comprises at least 15% of ferrite, atleast 50% of martensite and at least 15% of retained austenite.

Preferably the chemical composition of the steel satisfies at least oneof the following conditions:

0.03%≦Al≦0.5%

Si+Al≧1.4%

1.4%≦Al≦2.5%

In any case, at least one of the faces of the sheet may comprise ametallic coating or an alloyed metallic coating such as zinc coating oralloyed zinc coating.

The invention will now be described in details and illustrated byexamples without introducing limitations.

The steel which is used to manufacture high-strength steel sheetsaccording to the present invention has the following composition:

-   -   0.1%≦C≦0.25% for ensuring a satisfactory strength and improving        the stability of the austenite. Preferably, the carbon content        is higher than 0.15%,    -   4.5%≦Mn≦10%. The manganese content must be higher than 4.5% in        order to improve the stability of the retained austenite by        higher chemical enrichment of austenite in manganese and        decreasing the grain size of austenite. It is expected that the        decreasing of the austenite grain size will reduce the diffusion        distance and therefore foster the diffusion of C and Mn during        the overaging step. Moreover, manganese contents higher than        4.5% decrease the Ms transformation point, the Ac₁ and Ac₃        transformation points which makes easier the achievement of heat        treatment. For example, when the Ac₃ point is lowered, the        annealing temperature can be reduced, which makes easier the        heating i.e. it is possible to reduce the heating power or to        increase the speed of passage of the sheet. But, the manganese        content must remain less than 10% in order not to decrease too        much the ductility and weldability. Preferably, the manganese        content is less than 7.5%, and preferably less than 5.5%. But,        in a particular embodiment it is higher than 6.5%. It must be        noted that adding Al increases Ac₃ and counter balances the Mn        effect, such addition is not detrimental up to 2.5% of Al.    -   The C and Mn contents are such that the carbon-manganese index        CMnIdex=C×(1+Mn/3.5) is less or equal 0.6 to ensure that the        martensite should not be too brittle which is desirable to        enable the mechanical cutting in good conditions. In this        formula, C and Mn are the contents in weight %.    -   1%≦Si≦3% and preferably Si≧1.4% in order to stabilize the        austenite, to provide solid solution strengthening and to delay        the formation of carbides during carbon redistribution from        martensite to austenite resulting from the overaging. But at a        too high content, silicon oxides will form at the surface which        is detrimental to coatability. Thus the silicon content is        preferably less than or equal to 1.8%.    -   0.03%≦Al≦2.5%. Al is added to deoxidize the liquid steel and it        increases robustness meaning that the evolution of austenite        fraction is less sensible to annealing temperature. The minimum        Al content is 0.03%. At high content, aluminum delays the        formation of carbides during carbon redistribution from        martensite to austenite resulting from the overaging. To delay        the formation of carbides the minimum content of Al+Si should be        1.4%. Preferably, the Al content is at least 1.4% to enable the        weldability of the steel. The maximum of Al is 2.5%, above such        an amount, delta ferrite is formed at high temperature. Delta        ferrite is detrimental to weldability and is a brittle phase. It        must be noted that Al increases significantly the Ac₃        transformation point which renders the annealing more difficult;        such effect is counter balanced by the presence of high Mn        contents. Particularly when there is no particular problem of        weldability, the Al content can remains equal or less than 0.5%.        Thus the Ac3 transformation temperature is not increased which        enables to improve the productivity of the continuous annealing        line.

The remainder is Fe and impurities resulting from the smelting. Suchimpurities include N, S, P, and residual elements such as Cr, Ni, Mo,Cu, and B.

Usually, the N content remains less than 0.01%, the S content less than0.01%, the P content less than 0.02%, the Cr content less than 0.1%, theNi content less than 0.1%, the Mo content less than 0.05%, the Cucontent less than 0.2% and the B content less than 0.0010%. Microalloying with Nb, Ti and V is possible in this concept but Ti contentmust be less than 0.1%, the Nb content less than 0.1%, and the V contentless than 0.3%

With such steel, hot rolled sheets are produced. These hot rolled sheetshave a thickness between 2 mm and 5 mm, for example.

Optionally, the hot rolled sheets are cold rolled in order to obtaincold rolled sheets having a thickness between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, forexample. Those who are skilled in the art know how to produce such hotor cold rolled sheets.

Then the hot or cold rolled sheets are heat treated on a continuous heattreatment line such as continuous annealing line comprising at least aheating zone able to heat the sheet up to an annealing temperature, asoaking zone able to maintain the sheet at the annealing temperature oraround this temperature, a cooling zone able to rapidly cool the sheetdown to a quenching temperature QT, a reheating zone able to heat thesheet up to an overaging temperature PT and an overaging zone able tomaintain the sheet at the overaging temperature or around thistemperature for a time Pt. Optionally, the overaging zone can be a hotdip coating zone comprising at least a hot dip coating bath containing aliquid metal such as zinc and optionally an alloying zone.

Such continuous heat treatment line is known to those skilled in theart. The purpose of the heat treatment is to confer to the steel astructure suitable to obtain the desired characteristics of strength andductility and, possibly, to hot dip the sheet.

It must be noted that contents of microstructural constituents aregenerally given as a surface fraction based on optical and scanningmicroscope pictures.

In any case, the annealing temperature AT is higher than the Ac₁,transformation point of the steel in order to form enough austenite ableto be transformed by quenching and overaging.

If the structure of the sheet before annealing contains ferrite andpearlite and if a significant content of ferrite is desired afterquenching and overaging, the annealing temperature must remain less thanthe Ac₃ transformation point of the steel.

If it is desired that the structure before quenching is completelyaustenitic, the annealing temperature AT must be higher than the Ac₃transformation point of the steel, but it is preferable that it remainsless than 1000° C. in order not to coarsen too much the austeniticgrains which is unfavorable for the ductility of the obtained structure.

In any case, it is preferable to maintain the sheet at that annealingtemperature at least 60 s but more than 200 s is not necessary.

It is desired that during quenching and overaging, the austenite whichis formed during the annealing step is transformed at least partially inmartensite. The quenching temperature QT must be less than the Mstransformation point of the steel and with a cooling speed enough toobtain a structure just after quenching containing at least martensite.The minimal cooling speed which is the critical martensitic coolingspeed depends at least on the chemical composition of the steel andthose which are skilled in the art know how to determine it. As it ispreferably desired to have a structure containing a significant contentof retained austenite, the QT temperature must not be too low and mustbe chosen according to the desired content of retained austenite. Forthat reason, the quenching temperature is between 190° which is lessthan the Ms transformation point, and 80° C. in order to have asufficient amount of retained austenite. But, the quenching temperatureis less than 190° because, when it is higher than this temperature, theamount of retained austenite in too important and this retainedaustenite can be transformed in fresh martensite after partitioning andcooling to the room temperature, which is detrimental for the ductility.More specifically, it is possible to determine for each chemicalcomposition of the steel an optimal quenching temperature QTop thattheoretically achieves an optimum residual austenite content. Thisoptimum quenching temperature can be calculated using a relationshipbetween the chemical composition of the steel and Ms which was newlyestablished by the inventors:

Ms=561−474×C−33×Mn−17×Cr−21×Mo−11×Si−17×Ni+10×Al

And the Koistinen Marburger relationship:

fα′=1−exp{−0.011×(Ms−T)}

fα′ being the proportion of martensite at the temperature T duringquenching, and by assuming that, after quenching down to a temperatureQT the steel is overaged at a temperature higher than QT and that due tothe overaging, the partitioning of carbon between the martensite and theremaining austenite is completely realized.

Those which are skilled in the art know how to make this calculation.

The optimal quenching temperature QTop is not necessarily the quenchingtemperature QT which is chosen to make actual heat treatments.Preferably, the quenching temperature QT is chosen equal or near to thisoptimal quenching temperature and preferably less than 190° C. because,when the quenching temperature is too high, after partitioning, theaustenite is at least partially transformed in fresh martensite and theobtained structure is very brittle. With the steel according to thepresent invention, the maximum residual austenite content which ispossible to obtain after a full austenitization is between 20% and 45%.As during overaging or after it, some of the residual austenite can betransformed in bainite or in fresh martensite, the structure which isobtained after a full austenitization contains some ferrite or somebainite, the total content of such constituents is less than 10% andpreferably less than 5% and the structure contains at least 65% ofmartensite. With the steel according to the present invention, when thequenching temperature QT is less than 80° C., the austenite content ofthe structure is too low, less than about 8% and even can be fullmartensitic. In this case, the structure which is obtained afterpartitioning can be very brittle.

When the austenitization is not full i.e. when the annealing temperatureis between the Ac₁ transformation point and the Ac₃ transformation pointof the steel, the content of austenite and martensite depends on thecontent of ferrite after annealing i.e. depending on the annealingtemperature. But, preferably, the ferrite content is between 10% and40%, more preferably higher than 15% and more preferably less than 35%,the martensite content is at least 50% and the retained austenitecontent is at least 10% and preferably at least 15%.

When the structure contains martensite and retained austenite, thepurpose of the overaging is generally to transfer carbon from themartensite to the retained austenite in order to improve the ductilityof the martensite and to increase the carbon content of the austenite inorder to render possible a TRIP effect, without forming significantamount of bainite and/or of carbides. For this, the overagingtemperature PT must be between 350° C. and 500° C. and the overagingtime Pt must be at least 5 s and preferably of more than 90 s in orderthat the enrichment of the austenite in carbon is enough. But this timemust not be too long and preferably must be not more than 600 s in orderto have no or about no decomposition of the austenite in a structurelike bainite. In any case, the overaging temperature PT has to be chosensufficiently high given the overaging time Pt which depends on thecharacteristics of the annealing line and on the thickness of the sheet,in order to have enough transfer of carbon from martensite to austenitei.e. enough partitioning.

In a particular embodiment, the overaging temperature PT is equal to theoptimal temperature for hot dip coating i.e. between 440° C. and 470° C.and typically about 460° C. Moreover, the overaging can be made at leastpartially by the passage of the sheet in the hot dip coating bath. Inthis case, the overaging temperature is between 5 s and 60 s. If thelayer of coating is alloyed by heating and maintaining at a temperaturebetween 480° C. and 570° C. for the galvannealing, this treatment willcontribute to the overaging of the steel.

More precisely, with a steel having the following composition:0.15%≦C≦0.25%, 4.5%≦Mn≦5.5%, 1.4%≦Si≦1.8%, 0.03≦Al≦2.5%, the reminderbeing Fe and impurities, it is possible to obtain high strength steelsheet having a yield strength YS higher than 1100 MPa, a tensilestrength TS higher than 1350 MPa and a uniform elongation UE of morethan 10% and a total elongation TE of more than 12% if the CMnIndexremains less than 0.6%. These properties can be obtained if thestructure is essentially martensitic with a significant content ofretained austenite, preferably containing more than 65% of martensiteand more than 20% of retained austenite, the sum of the ferrite andbainite contents remaining less than 10%.

The sheet can be coated or not. When it is coated, it can be galvanizedor galvannealed.

To obtain such steel, it is necessary to anneal the sheet at atemperature higher than the Ac₃ transformation point of the steel and toquench it down to a temperature less than the Ms transformation pointfollowed by a reheating to the overaging temperature.

Regarding the Ac₃ transformation point, it can be noted that for thissteel, it is less than about 750° C. when the Al content is less than0.5% while it is about 850° C. for the steels generally used to producesheets of such category. This difference of about 100° C. is veryimportant because it is easier to heat a sheet up to a temperature thatmust only be higher than 750° C. than to a temperature that must behigher than 850° C. Heating needs less energy and may be faster. Thus itis possible to have a better productivity, at the same time, the Ac₁ andAc₃ points must not be too close because if they are too close, thesteel robustness will be impaired since a small annealing temperaturechange will induce a large modification of phase fractions andconsequently unstable mechanical properties.

When the Al content is between 1.4% and 2.5%, the Ac₃ transformationpoint can be higher than 850° C., but the weldability of the steel isimproved.

With this steel, it is also possible to obtain sheets having a structurecontaining at least 50% of martensite, at least 10% and preferably atleast 15% of retained austenite and at least 10% and preferably at least15% of ferrite. For this, the annealing temperature must be between theAc₁ and Ac₃ transformation points and the quenching temperature must beless than the Ms transformation point. The yield strength can be higherthan 1300 MPa and the total elongation can be of about 14% which is verygood for the formability of the sheet. But, the yield strength is onlyabout 750 MPa.

With a steel containing 0.15% to 0.25% C, 6.5% to 7.5% Mn, 1.4% to 1.8%Si, less 0.03≦Al≦2.5% the reminder being Fe and impurities, it ispossible to obtain a yield strength higher than 1000 MPa and a tensilestrength higher than 1100 MPa with a structure consisting of martensiteand retained austenite. Due to the high Mn content, the Ac₁ and Mstransformation points of this steel are significantly lowered: Ac₁ lessthan 450° C. and Ms less than 250° C. Moreover Ac3 is lowered if the Alcontent is less than 0.5%. In this case, Ac3 could be less than 700° C.This is useful since heat treatments are easier to realize, i.e. fasterannealing and less energy consuming annealing treatments are possible.

Sheets made of steels having the compositions which are reported intable I were produced by hot rolling, the hot rolled sheets having athickness of 2.4 mm. The hot rolled sheets were batch annealed at 600°C. for 5 hours, then pickled and cold rolled to obtain sheets having athickness of 1.2 mm. Then, these sheets were heat treated.

Before heat treatment, an optimal quenching temperature QTop wasdetermined for each composition. This optimal quenching temperature isthe temperature at which the quenching has theoretically to be stoppedin order to obtain the maximum austenite content in the structure afterheat treatment. But, it is not necessarily the QT temperature that ispreferable to choose for the actual heat treatment.

Each heat treatment included an annealing at an annealing temperatureAT, a quenching down to a quenching temperature QT, an overaging at anoveraging temperature PT during an overaging time Pt. The structures andthe mechanical properties YS, TS, UE and TE were measured.

The carbon-manganese index CMnIndex, the values of the Ae₁, Ae₃ and Mstransformation points of the steels and the optimal quenchingtemperature QTop are reported in Table I. The Ae₁ and Ae₃ transformationpoints are the values at equilibrium and do not depend on the heatingspeed nor on the holding time at the temperature of transformationcontrary to Ac1 and Ac3 which are the heating transformation points. Thevalues of the heating transformation points are always higher than theequilibrium values and depend on the actual conditions of treatment.Those which are skilled in the art know how to determine the values ofthe transformations points that have to be considered in each specificcase. The conditions, the structures and the mechanical propertiesresulting from the treatments of steels according to the invention orgiven as comparison are reported in table II and table III. Counterexamples corresponding to steels out of the scope of the invention arereported in table IV.

TABLE I C Mn Si Al Ac₁ Ac₃ Ms QTop Cast % % % % CMnIndex ° C. ° C. ° C.° C. H166 0.2 5 1.6 0.03 0.49 562 742 280 160 H167 0.2 5 1.6 1.5 0.49592 891 300 160 H240 0.2 7.5 1.6 0.03 0.63 434 696 200 110 H169 0.3 51.6 0.03 0.73 585 727 235 155 H170 0.2 5 — 0.03 0.49 512 718 302 170

In this table, cast H166 and H167 are examples of the invention. Thecasts H240, H169 and H170 are out of the scope of the invention and aregiven as comparison.

TABLE II Pt Test Cast AT ° C. QT ° C. PT ° C. s Structure YS MPa TS MPaUE % TE % 1 H166 820 20 400 500 M( A < 2%) 1377 1500 2.4 2.4 2 H166 820120 400 500 M + 28% A 1245 1390 11.9 15 3 H166 820 140 400 500 M + 30% A1143 1390 10.6 13.8 4 H166 820 160 400 500 M + 36% A 1088 1414 11.7 14.15 H166 820 180 400 500 M + 42% A 875- 1475 9.6 11.6 6 H166 820 200 400500 M + 31% A 811 1342 3.9 3.9 7 H166 820 230 400 500 M + 20% A 775 16163.6 3.6 8 H166 820 160 400 100 M + 29% A 971 1464 11.2 13.4 9 H166 820160 450 500 M + 34% A 890 1457 11.4 13.8 10 H166 820 160 450 10 M + 27%A 1029 1414 9.7 12 11 H166 820 160 350 500 M + 25% A 951 1473 9.8 12.212 H166 900 160 400 500 M + 33% A 1074 1338 11.3 14.2 13 H166 800 160400 500 M + 27% A 1125 1461 9.7 12.9 14 H166 800 140 400 500 M + 23% A1233 1452 11.5 13.9 15 H166 800 180 400 500 M + 29% A 933 1517 9.7 11.316 H166 800 160 400 100 M + 24% A 1093 1486 9.1 12.6 17 H166 800 160 450500 M + 28% A 944 1456 9.3 11.7 18 H166 800 160 450 10 M + 25% A 10631451 8.9 12.4 19 H166 700 120 400 500 F + M + 45% A 783 1306 13.9 14.5

TABLE III Pt Test Cast AT ° C. QT ° C. PT ° C. s Structure YS MPa TS MPaUE % TE % 20 H167 950 160 400 500 M + 18%A 950 1340 12.6 15.4 21 H167950 140 400 500 M + 21%A 1021 1315 12.9 16.4 22 H167 1050 160 400 500M + 20%A 1000 1230 7.5 12.3 23 H167 1050 140 400 500 M + 17%A 1020 12153.7 8.2 24 H167 1050 180 400 500 M + 24%A 960 1210 9 13 25 H167 1050 120400 500 M + 14%A 1025 1260 3 7.2

TABLE IV Pt Test Cast AT ° C. QT ° C. PT ° C. s Structure YS MPa TS MPaUE % TE % 26 H240 820 70 400 500 1198 1288 0.9 0.9 27 H240 820 90 400500 M + 17%A 1090 1213 1.8 1.8 28 H240 820 110 400 500 M + 22%A 936 11822.5 2.5 29 H240 800 90 400 500 1149 1274 1.4 1.4 30 H240 800 110 400 5001021 1291 2.6 2.6 31 H240 800 130 400 500 1180 1260 1 1 32 H240 800 180400 1800 M + 8%A  780 1540 1.7 1.8 33 H169 820 110 400 500 1123 1426 4.54.5 34 H169 820 130 400 500 M + 40%A 1000 1365 3.3 3.3 35 H169 820 150400 500 M + 33%A 784 1375 3.1 3.1 36 H169 800 140 400 500 M + 31%A 9501145 1 1 37 H169 800 160 400 500 M + 35%A 790 1210 1.6 1.6 38 H169 800180 400 500 740 1300 1.6 1.6 39 H170 820 110 400 500 1066 1263 5.7 6.140 H170 820 130 400 500 1020 1270 6 8 41 H170 820 150 400 500 M + 6%A 961 1276 6.7 9.4 42 H170 820 170 400 500 M + 14%A 947 1297 5.9 8.0 43H170 800 150 400 500 M + 7%A  1000 1330 6.3 8.8 44 H170 800 170 400 500M + 11%A 971 1300 6.1 7.8

The examples 1 to 19 are related to a steel containing 0.2% C, 5% Mn,1.6% Si and 0.03% Al according to the invention. Example 1 correspondsto a treatment of quenching and tempering according to the prior art,the quenching being down to the ambient temperature and the structurebeing about completely martensitic. For the example 19, the annealing isintercritical. All the examples 2 to 19 show that it is possible toobtain a yield strength higher than 700 MPa and a tensile strengthhigher than 1100 MPa. The examples 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 14 and 16 show thatwith a quenching temperature equal or less than 160° C. and higher orequal to 120° C. and a partitioning (or overaging) at 400° C. for 500 s,it is possible to obtain a yield strength of more than 1050 MPa and atensile strength of more than 1350 MPa. But, when the quenchingtemperature is higher than 160° C. (examples 5, 6, 7 and 15), even ifthe tensile strength is at least 1342 MPa, the yield strength remainsless than 1000 MPa. The examples 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14 and 19 show thatit is possible to obtain an uniform elongation UE of more than 10% and atotal elongation TE of more than 12%. The examples 1, 6 and 7 for whichthe total elongation is equal to the uniform elongation are very brittleand show that must remain less than 180° C. The example 1 show that theyield strength and the tensile strength which are obtained with a totalquenching are higher than with a partial quenching, but the samples arevery brittle.

The examples 20 to 25 of steel having a high content of aluminum andtherefore being more easily weldable can have very good properties, forexample, a yield strength of at least 950 MPa, a tensile strength of atleast 1315 MPa, a uniform elongation higher than 12% and a totalelongation higher than 15% (examples 20 and 21). But a comparison withthe examples 23 to 25 show that it is preferable that the annealingtemperature remains less than 1000° C. in order to not deteriorate theyield strength of the uniform elongation.

The counter examples 27 to 32 show that with a steel containing 7.5% ofmanganese and having a carbon equivalent Ceq>0.6 it is possible toobtain high yield strength and high tensile strength (YS>700 MPa andTs>100 MPa), but all the examples are very brittle. The totalelongations are always equal to the uniform elongations and are verylow.

The counter examples 33 to 38 show that with the steel H167 who has acarbon equivalent Ceq of 0.73 is very brittle.

The counter examples 39 to 44 related to a steel not containing siliconshow that even if the yield strength and tensile strength are similar tothose of the steels according to the invention, the elongations arenever as high. The maximum uniform elongation is 6.7 and the maximumtotal elongation is 9.4 (example 41).

1-25. (canceled)
 26. A method for manufacturing a steel sheet having atensile strength of more than 1100 MPa, a yield strength of more than700 MPa, a uniform elongation UE of at least 8.0% and a total elongationTE of at least 10.0%, comprising the steps of: providing a steel sheet,the steel having a chemical composition including in percent by weight:0.1%≦C≦0.25%;4.5%≦Mn≦10%;1%≦Si≦3%; and0.03%≦Al≦2.5%; a remainder being Fe and impurities resulting from thesmelting, and the chemical composition including aCMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6; annealing a rolled sheet made of the steel bysoaking the rolled sheet at an annealing temperature TA higher than theAc3 transformation point of the steel but less than 1000° C., andmaintaining the rolled sheet at the annealing temperature for 60 s to200 s, to obtain an annealed sheet; cooling the annealed sheet to aquenching temperature QT between 190° and 80° C., at a cooling speedsufficient to obtain a quenched sheet having a structure just aftercooling including martensite and retained austenite, the quenchingtemperature QT being such that the steel sheet produced by the methodhas a final structure including at least 20% of retained austenite andat least 65% of martensite, a sum of ferrite and bainite contents beingless than 10%; maintaining the quenched sheet at an overagingtemperature PT between 350° C. and 500° C. for an overaging time Pt ofmore than 5 s; cooling the steel sheet down to ambient temperature. 27.The method according to claim 26, wherein the chemical composition ofthe steel includes:0.15%≦C≦0.25%;4.5%≦Mn≦5.5%;1.4%≦Si≦1.8%;0.03%≦Al≦2.5%; andCx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6, and wherein the annealing temperature AT is higherthan 760° C., the quenching temperature QT is less than 170° C. and thefinal structure of the steel sheet includes between 20% and 30% ofretained austenite.
 28. The method according to claim 27, wherein thequenching temperature QT is less than 150° C.
 29. The method accordingto claim 27, wherein the overaging temperature PT is between 380° C. and470° C. and the overaging time Pt is between 90 s and 600 s.
 30. Themethod according to claim 26, wherein the chemical composition of thesteel includes:0.15%≦C≦0.25%;6.5%≦Mn≦7.5%;1.4%≦Si≦1.8%;0.03%≦Al≦2.5%; andCx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6; wherein the annealing temperature AT is higher than710° C., the quenching temperature QT is between 120° C. and 180° C.,the overaging temperature PT is between 350° C. and 470° C. and theoveraging time Pt is between 5 s and 600 s.
 31. A method formanufacturing a steel sheet having a tensile strength of more than 1100MPa, a yield strength of more than 700 MPa, a uniform elongation UE ofat least 8.0% and a total elongation of at least 10.0%, comprising thesteps of: providing a steel having a chemical composition containing inpercent by weight:0.15%≦C≦0.25%;4.5%≦Mn≦5.5%;1.4%≦Si≦1.8%; and0.03%≦Al≦2.5%; a remainder being Fe and impurities resulting from thesmelting, and the chemical composition including aCMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6; annealing a rolled sheet made of the steel bysoaking the rolled sheet at an annealing temperature TA higher than theAc₁ transformation point of the steel but less than 1000° C. and lessthan the Ac₃ transformation point of the steel, to obtain an annealedsheet; cooling the annealed sheet to a quenching temperature QT between110° and 170° C., at a cooling speed sufficient to obtain a quenchedsheet having a structure just after cooling including martensite andretained austenite; maintaining the quenched sheet at an overagingtemperature PT between 350° C. and 500° C. for an overaging time Ptbetween 5 s and 600 s; cooling the steel sheet down to ambienttemperature; the steel sheet having a final structure including at least15% of ferrite, at least 50% of martensite and at least 15% of retainedaustenite.
 32. The method according to claim 26, wherein the chemicalcomposition of the steel includes 0.03%≦Al≦0.5%.
 33. The methodaccording to claim 32, wherein the chemical composition of the steelincludes Si+Al≧1.4%.
 34. The method according to claim 26, wherein thechemical composition of the steel is includes 1.4%≦Al≦2.5%.
 35. Themethod according to claim 26, wherein the overaging temperature PT isbetween 440° C. and 470° C. and the overaging time Pt is between 5 s and60 s.
 36. The method according to claim 25, wherein at least part of thestep of maintaining the quenched sheet at the overaging temperature PTincludes passing the quenched sheet in a hot dip coating bath.
 37. Themethod according to claim 36, further comprising, after passing thesheet in the hot dip coating bath and before cooling to ambienttemperature, a step of maintaining the steel sheet at a temperaturebetween 480° C. and 570° C.
 38. The method according to claim 26,wherein the annealing, the quenching and the overaging are performed ona continuous heat treatment line.
 39. The method according to claim 26,wherein the rolled sheet is prepared by rolling and wherein rollingincludes hot rolling and cold rolling.
 40. A steel sheet having atensile strength of more than 1100 MPa, a yield strength of more than700 MPa, a uniform elongation UE of at least 8.0% and a total elongationTE of at least 10.0%, comprising: a steel having a chemical compositionincluding, in weight percent:0.1%≦C≦0.25%;4.5%≦Mn≦10%;1%≦Si≦3%; and0.03%≦Al≦2.5%; a remainder being Fe and impurities resulting from thesmelting, and the chemical composition including aCMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6; and a structure including at least 20% ofretained austenite and at least 65% of martensite and a sum of ferriteand bainite contents being less than 10%.
 41. The steel sheet accordingto claim 15, wherein the chemical composition of the steel includes:0.15%≦C≦0.25%;4.5%≦Mn≦5.5%;1.4%≦Si≦1.8%;0.03≦Al≦2.5%; andCMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6.
 42. The steel sheet according to claim 41,wherein the yield strength YS is higher than 1100 MPa, the tensilestrength TS is higher than 1350 MPa, the uniform elongation UE is ofmore than 10% and the total elongation TE is of more than 12%.
 43. Thesteel sheet according to claim 40, wherein the chemical composition ofthe steel includes:0.15%≦C≦0.25%;6.5%≦Mn≦7.5%;1.4%≦Si≦1.8%;0.03≦Al≦2.5%; andCx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6, and wherein the yield strength YS is higher than 1000MPa and the tensile strength TS is higher than 1100 MPa.
 44. A steelsheet having a tensile strength of more than 1100 MPa, a yield strengthof more than 700 MPa, a uniform elongation UE of at least 8.0% and atotal elongation TE of at least 10.0%, comprising: a steel having achemical composition including, in weight percent:0.15%≦C≦0.25%;4.5%≦Mn≦5.5%;1.4≦Si≦1.8%; and0.03≦Al≦2.5%; a remainder being Fe and impurities resulting from thesmelting, and the chemical composition including aCMnIndex=Cx(1+Mn/3.5)≦0.6; a structure including at least 15% offerrite, at least 50% of martensite and at least 15% of retainedaustenite.
 45. The steel sheet according to claim 40, wherein thechemical composition of the steel includes 0.03%≦Al≦0.5%.
 46. The steelsheet according to claim 45, wherein the chemical composition of thesteel includes Si+Al≧1.4%.
 47. The steel sheet according to claim 40,wherein the chemical composition of the steel includes 1.4%≦Al≦2.5%. 48.The steel sheet according to claim 40, wherein at least one face of thesteel sheet comprises a metallic coating.
 49. The method according toclaim 31, wherein the chemical composition of the steel includes0.03%≦Al≦0.5%.
 50. The method according to claim 49, wherein thechemical composition of the steel includes Si+Al≧1.4%.
 51. The methodaccording to claim 31, wherein the chemical composition of the steelincludes 1.4%≦Al≦2.5%.
 52. The method according to claim 31, wherein theoveraging temperature PT is between 440° C. and 470° C. and theoveraging time Pt is between 5 s and 60 s.